1
as in curious
interested in what is not one's own business
as we moved into our new home, we could sense that there were prying eyes watching us
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in busy
thrusting oneself where one is not welcome or invited
prying neighbors who refuse to mind their own business
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in pulling
to raise, move, or pull apart with or as if with a lever
it took some effort to pry up the trap door
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in yanking
to draw out by force or with effort
a vain attempt to pry the cork out of a wine bottle
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in interfering
to interest oneself in what is not one's concern
don't go prying into other people's business
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in questioning
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of prying
Nicholas Ivor Martin and Jacobina Martin, oregonlive, 4 Feb. 2023
But inquiring into the specifics of familial dynamics is impudent and prying — and a line of questioning that most people would be happy to avoid answering themselves.
—Jacobina Martin, Washington Post, 4 Feb. 2023
The Google Nest Hub (7/10, WIRED Recommends) is a great smart display with no camera (and therefore no risk of unwanted prying eyes).
—Brenda Stolyar and Medea Giordano, WIRED, 28 Nov. 2022
To my mind, however, there’s a difference between a Google or a Facebook, which provide valuable services in return for their prying eyes, and an app that serves a single, ostensibly benign purpose — parking validation.
—Los Angeles Times, 12 Nov. 2021
Carry two phones While anti-spy software may be effective in staving off the prying eyes of the Chinese government, not everyone knows how to install it.
—Jane Li, Quartz, 6 Aug. 2019
Its purpose: to train librarians to implement secure protocols on their own web services, and to teach members of the community to evade the prying eyes of governments, corporations, and criminal hackers.
—Eoin O'Carroll, The Christian Science Monitor, 18 Oct. 2017
One reason Russians have loaded up on passports is that Cypriot citizenship helps them avoid the prying eyes of their government and pay lower taxes.
—Yalman Onaran, Bloomberg.com, 11 May 2017
Verb
But inquiring into the specifics of familial dynamics is impudent and prying -- and a line of questioning that most people would be happy to avoid answering themselves.
—Nicholas Ivor Martin and Jacobina Martin, oregonlive, 4 Feb. 2023
But inquiring into the specifics of familial dynamics is impudent and prying — and a line of questioning that most people would be happy to avoid answering themselves.
—Jacobina Martin, Washington Post, 4 Feb. 2023
The Google Nest Hub (7/10, WIRED Recommends) is a great smart display with no camera (and therefore no risk of unwanted prying eyes).
—Brenda Stolyar and Medea Giordano, WIRED, 28 Nov. 2022
To my mind, however, there’s a difference between a Google or a Facebook, which provide valuable services in return for their prying eyes, and an app that serves a single, ostensibly benign purpose — parking validation.
—Los Angeles Times, 12 Nov. 2021
Carry two phones While anti-spy software may be effective in staving off the prying eyes of the Chinese government, not everyone knows how to install it.
—Jane Li, Quartz, 6 Aug. 2019
Its purpose: to train librarians to implement secure protocols on their own web services, and to teach members of the community to evade the prying eyes of governments, corporations, and criminal hackers.
—Eoin O'Carroll, The Christian Science Monitor, 18 Oct. 2017
One reason Russians have loaded up on passports is that Cypriot citizenship helps them avoid the prying eyes of their government and pay lower taxes.
—Yalman Onaran, Bloomberg.com, 11 May 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prying
Adjective
-
Sometimes leaders aren’t curious enough to ask what people really want.—
Dr. Diane Hamilton,
Forbes.com,
4 July 2025
-
At least in part, Bernheim's programs are meant to put visitors in a more curious and creative state ― one that many young visitors already inhabit full-time.—
Connor Giffin,
The Courier-Journal,
3 July 2025
Adjective
-
As Lauryn was busy working at her warehouse alongside sister Jessica Shannon and her friend Paisley, June stopped by to inform them of her big plan.—
Dory Jackson,
People.com,
28 June 2025
-
Despite the setback in Denver, the couple has been busy in the meantime.—
Max Scheinblum,
Denver Post,
28 June 2025
Noun
-
Black told jurors the video shows Johnson sitting calmly through nearly an hour of questioning before launching the assault.—
Miguel Torres,
AZCentral.com,
3 July 2025
-
Her persistence and questioning are contagious to her classmates, too.—
Caroline Beck,
IndyStar,
2 July 2025
Adjective
-
According To Experts Where To Set Up A Mouse Trap Mice are inquisitive and will investigate anything new, says Owen.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
19 June 2025
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Decades after her mother’s passing, Seed discovered those recordings and put them at the heart of a documentary, A Photographic Memory, a film that can also be described as gentle, inquisitive, and wise.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
14 June 2025
Noun
-
Federal agents subjected them to interrogations and even incarceration.—
Michael Luo,
New Yorker,
8 June 2025
-
During his tenure, Jennings has: Effectively fired four officers and a supervisor who knew Harold Easter had swallowed cocaine during a traffic stop in January 2020 but failed to render any aid, instead leaving him alone in an interrogation room for more than 10 minutes.—
Julia Coin,
Charlotte Observer,
6 June 2025
Adjective
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For America to retain our status as the hub of the financial world, global investors need to know that dollars invested in U.S. financial institutions will not be subject to intrusive government regulation and taxation, and that their financial privacy will be protected.—
Stephen Moore,
Boston Herald,
19 June 2025
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This precision timing enhances conversion rates and improves the customer experience, making interactions feel serendipitous rather than intrusive.—
Maria Youth,
Forbes.com,
16 June 2025
Noun
-
The New York Times, which first broke the news of Ryan's resignation, reported on Thursday that the Justice Department was pressuring Ryan to step down in order to resolve a civil rights inquiry into the university.—
Zachary Schermele,
USA Today,
28 June 2025
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Sustainable Beef didn't immediately reply to an inquiry for more information about the company.—
Serenah McKay,
Arkansas Online,
27 June 2025
Adjective
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The series centers on Italian American sports writer Ray Barone (Romano), living with his wife and kids in Long Island, who must deal with his overbearing and nosy parents who live across the street, as well as his older brother’s frequent jealousy of his success.—
Natalie Oganesyan,
Deadline,
14 June 2025
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The show premiered on Sept. 13, 1996, and starred comedian Ray Romano as an Italian sports columnist living in Long Island with his wife (played by Patricia Heaton) and their three kids, with his nosy parents just across the street.—
Virginia Chamlee,
People.com,
11 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Prying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prying. Accessed 9 Jul. 2025.
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